Book Appointments & Health Checkup Packages
Book Appointments & Health Checkup Packages
Pregnancy tests that assess the foetal heart rate in response to movement and contractions are known as nonstress tests (NSTs). Either reactive or nonreactive outcomes are obtained. Nonreactive results may not indicate a problem, but they may indicate that more testing is required. Your pregnancy care team can assess your foetus' health status with the use of a nonstress test (NST). During the test, you and the foetus are not under any stress.
If you have any questions regarding your nonstress test results or what they mean for your pregnancy, speak with your provider. They can calm your fears by guiding you through what will occur.
A nonstress test, also known as a foetal nonstress test or NST, is a prenatal screening technique used to gauge the foetus's heart rate and movement response. A nonstress test is conducted by your pregnancy care provider to ensure that the foetus is healthy and receiving enough oxygen. It takes its name from the fact that it causes neither you nor the foetus any stress—it is painless and safe.
Your doctor monitors the foetus's heart rate as it moves during an NST. Its heart rate ought to rise as it moves or kicks, just like it does when you run. It doesn't always indicate that something is wrong if the foetus's heart rate remains constant or doesn't respond to movement.
Though this isn't always the case, it might indicate that the foetus isn't getting enough oxygen. The findings of a nonstress test are used by your prenatal care provider to determine if more testing is required or whether inducing labour is the best course of action.
Not every expectant mother requires a nonstress test. But you might require this test, if:
It appears like your child is not moving as much as normal.
It's past your due date.
You suffer from a long-term medical problem like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, or a clotting disorder.
You experienced difficulties during a prior pregnancy.
Rh-negative blood is an uncommon but potentially dangerous disorder that causes your body to produce antibodies against the blood of your unborn child.
You are expecting many children—twins, triplets, or more.
If the foetus measures smaller for its gestational age.
Either you have too little (oligohydramnios) or too much (polyhydramnios) amniotic fluid.
If you have undergone an external cephalic version to turn a breech baby or third-trimester amniocentesis, your healthcare provider may order an NST to monitor your foetal well-being.
NST tests can indicate if the baby is not receiving enough oxygen due to placental or umbilical cord problems or foetal distress.
An NST does not require you to prepare. To ensure that your bladder is empty, your provider could ask you to use the toilet first.
While lying on your left side, two monitors will be placed on you; one will record the baby's heartbeat and movements, and the other will track your contractions. While your contractions are being documented on paper, a technician is keeping an eye on the foetal heart rate on a screen at each movement.
The infant could be asleep during the test if there is no movement, in which case the technician might rouse the child with a buzzer. In an attempt to arouse the infant more, you can also be advised to eat or drink.
Depending on why it's necessary, a nonstress test can be performed at any point after 26 to 28 weeks. A baby's heart rate might react to movement at this age by increasing or decreasing.
An NST typically takes thirty minutes; however, it may take more.
The results of non-stress tests are reported as one of the following:
Reassuring or reactive: This indicates that throughout the testing period, the baby's heart rate rose two or more times. The foetal heart rate will decrease at rest.
Non-reactive: This indicates that either the baby was not moving much or that its heartbeat did not increase when it moved.
It's not always the case that a nonreactive test indicates your kid has a medical issue. It's possible that the infant was just sleeping and had trouble waking up. Pregnancy-related nonreactive findings may also arise from some medications. However, your provider will likely order more testing to see whether there is reason to worry if the result is non-reactive. If it is determined that your unborn child is in danger, you could require monitoring, therapy, or, if your pregnancy is advanced enough, an induced birth.
No, an NST cannot determine the sex of the foetus.
An NST test is a non-invasive, painless, and low-risk method. There are no known risks to the mother or the child.
Home Mukundapur Specialities Obstetrics-and-gynaecology Antenatal-clinic-nst-for-fetal-well-being